Peter & Claire Reaburn have taken on and conquered a giant cycling challenge to raise money for a very rare form of ovarian cancer

Reaburn Fundraiser | ROC’s Ride Page | Reaburns Feb 2022

This is an update on our previous Meet the Villager feature in February 2022, please jump back and see how this family story began.

On the 30th April, a team of 12 riders and 10 support crew started a fundraising bike ride from Parliament House in Canberra to the MCG in Melbourne, 900kms in 9 days. A ride of a lifetime that would make wonderful memories and form friendships for life.

View all of Peter’s Videos

The goal of the ride was to raise $100,000 for Rare Ovarian Cancer Incorporated to fund lifesaving research into a rare form of cancer called Granulosa Cell Tumour (GCT). Main Beach residents Peter and Claire Reaburn organised the event. Peter has always enjoyed cycling and his wife Claire has the dubious honour of being the oldest woman in Australia with GCT. Not only did they reach their fundraising goal but exceeded it, reaching $150,000. They are now able to not only donate $100,000 to the Hudson Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne for the research, but can now fund the CEO of Rare Ovarian Cancer Inc. who has a 17 year old daughter with the rare ovarian cancer.

The ride passed through picturesque little towns such as Tumut, Tumbarumba, Tallangatta, Wangaratta, Euroa and Yea. The group received much support from these little towns from local Bendigo Banks (a major sponsor), as well as pubs and Rotary Club groups.

The ride was due to pass through Whittlesea and then onto the MCG for the finish. However, despite two years of planning they couldn’t finish the ride due to many riders and support crew coming down with Covid with 120 km to go.

There were many disappointed participants. Despite not finishing the actual ride, it was unanimously decided that once back in their home towns and states, the riders would complete the 120kms that the ride fell short of. Peter got together with fellow rider and mate Peter Smith and fellow rider Sheree Osbourne in Manly, Brisbane to nail the uncompleted 120km.

The fun had, the funds raised, and the awareness of GCT that was raised, now sees Peter and Claire working with other riders from this year’s event to organise another event in 2023. The battle to defeat cancer rides on!

by Peter Reaburn

Peter bravely interviews his wife Claire